Grappling device

ABSTRACT

A grappling device, including a generally cylindrical body member, an annular grappling sleeve telescopically received over the body member, and a nut member rotatably secured to the body member threadably receiving the grappling sleeve. The sleeve includes a plurality of resilient grappling fingers extending beyond the body member opposite the nut member. The fingers are tapered inwardly, toward the axis of the sleeve, to resiliently engage the body member.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Tony Pignataro,,lr.

Montpelier, Ohio [21] Appl. No. 801,486 [22] Filed Feb. 24, 1969 [45] Patented Apr. 13, 1971 [73] Assignee Robinair Manufacturing Corporation Montpelier, Ohio [54] GRAPPLING DEVICE 11 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

[52] US. Cl 294/86.25,

[51] lnt.Cl E2lb3l/l2 [50] Field of Search 294/88, 86 (A), 86.17, 86.24, 93, 94, 99, 100; 29/262-266; 279/2; 294/86.14, 86.22, 86.25, 96

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,653,547 12/1927 Cameron Primary Examiner- Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry Attorney-Burton and Parker ABSTRACT: A grappling device, including a generally cylindrical body member, an annular grappling sleeve telescopically received over the body member, and a nut member rotatably secured to the body member threadably receiving the grappling sleeve. The sleeve includes a plurality of resilient grappling fingers extending beyond the body member opposite the nut member. The fingers are tapered inwardly, toward the axis of the sleeve, to resiliently engage the body member.

GRAPPLING DEVICE DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The grappling means shown by the prior art generally include a jackscrew member adapted to spread the grappling fingers of the device. Alternately, the grappling fingers are biased inwardly by a threaded sleeve. The jackscrew assembly however requires a number of component parts, and its is an object of the grappling means of this invention to simplify the former type of grappling device by eliminating the jackscrew member, and reduce the number of component parts. Examples of the grappling devices shown by the prior art include the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,050,005, 2,380,980, 2,6143 l 8.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION the grappling device of this invention includes a generally cylindrical body member, an annular grappling sleeve member telescopically received over the body member having a grappling end portion, and a threaded member rotatably secured to the body member threadably receiving the grappling sleeve member opposite the grappling end portion. The grappling end portion of the sleeve includes a plurality of resilient grappling fingers extending beyond the body member and tapering toward the axis of the sleeve member to resiliently engage the body member. The threaded member is thus rotatable on the body member to telescopically retract the sleeve member, toward the threaded member, to resiliently bias the grappling fingers radially outwardly.

The body portion of the disclosed embodiment includes a tapered bearing portion resiliently biasing the grappling fingers radially outwardly, and may include an axial opening adapted to receive a shaft or the like.

The grappling fingers in the preferred embodiment are defined by a plurality of slots extending through the grappling end portion of the sleeve. The fingers terminate in radially extending portions adapted to receive an encircling device, such as a sealing ring or the like. In the preferred embodiment of the grappling device of this invention, however, the diameter of the grappling fingers at the radially outwardly extending portions is equal to or less than the diameter of the sleeve portion, to permit receipt of the grappling device in a restricted opening.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the threaded member is an internally threaded nut, and the grappling sleeve member is externally threaded. The nut includes an annular internally threaded sleeve portion, spaced from the body member, which threadably receives the grappling sleeve, and a radially inwardly extending bearing portion rotatably secured to the body portion. The bearing portion abuts a shoulder provided on the body portion to prevent forward axial movement of the threaded nut, and a locking ring or the like may be provided to prevent rearward movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the grappling device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. I, with the grappling fingers expanded; and

FIG. 3 is an end view of the grappling device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT the disclosed embodiment of the grappling device includes a generally cylindrical body member 20, an annular grappling sleeve 22 telescopically received over the body member, and a threaded driver member or nut 24. The grappling sleeve has an expandable grappling end portion 26 including a plurality of grappling fingers 28 defined by slots 30 through the end of the grappling portion. The grappling fingers taper inwardly, toward the axis of the annular sleeve 22, to resiliently engage the body portion.

In this embodiment of the grappling device, the work entering end 32 of the body portion is also tapered toward the axis, and is provided with a bearing surface 34 engaging the inner surface of the grappling fingers 28. The distal ends of the fingers are provided with hooks," or radially outwardly extending portions 36 adapted to receive an encircling member, as described hereinbelow.

The threaded member or nut 24 includes a radially inwardly extending bearing portion 38 rotatably secured to the body portion 20, and an annular sleeve portion 40 overlying the body portion in spaced relation thereto. The sleeve portion of the nut is internally threaded at 42 to threadably receive the externally threaded end 44 of the grappling sleeve. The nut in this embodiment is secured against axial movement relative to the body member by an annular shoulder 46 on the body member and a conventional snapring 48, or the like, received in an annular groove 50. Rotation of the nut on the body member thereby threadably extends or retracts the grappling sleeve relative to the body member.

Retraction of the sleeve 22, by rotation of the nut 24, biases the grappling fingers 28 against the bearing surface 34 of the body member, resiliently expanding the fingers radially outwardly. Conversely, extension of the sleeve 20 permits the fingers to return to their normal or unbiased position. FIG. 1 shows the grappling sleeve in the extended position, with the grappling fingers in their normal position, and FIG. 2 shows the grappling sleeve retracted, with the fingers biased radially outwardly.

The operation of the grappling device of this invention will depend upon whether the device is intended to secure a relatively internal or external device. In this embodiment, the grappling sleeve is initially extended, as shown in FIG. 1. The grappling end portion 26 is then received within the work 54, such as an aperture or port having a sealing ring, or the like,

' shown in phantom at 52. The grappling fingers are then expanded radially outwardly, by reverse rotation of the nut 24, to engage the ring as shown in FIG. 2. The ring may then be withdrawn by removing the grappling device from the port.

The body portion 20, in this embodiment of the grappling device, has an axial opening 56 which permits removal of a sealing ring or the like from a shaft. The shaft is received in the aperture 56, and the opening 58 may be tapered to guide the shaft into the opening. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the components of the grappling device of this invention may be formed from various materials, including various metal alloys and plastics. The grappling sleeve is preferably formed form a resilient fatigue resistant material, including various steel alloys and certain plastics.

I claim:

I. A grappling device, comprising: a generally cylindrical body member, a grappling sleeve member telescopically received over said body member and having an expandable and contractable grappling end portion including a plurality of resilient grappling fingers extending beyond one end of said body member and tapered toward the axis of said sleeve member and adapted to internally engage said one end of the body member, said body member having a concentric bore opening axially outwardly at said one end with such bore having a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of said grappling sleeve member measured at the distal ends of the grappling fingers when such are in their connected and unbiased condition, a threaded driver threadedly connected to one of said members at the end remote from the grappling end portion of the sleeve member, means connecting the driver to the other member at the end remote from the grappling end portion of the sleeve member for rotation relative to such member but securing the driver and such member against relative axial displacement, said threaded driver rotatable in one direction relative to said members to threadedly telescopically retract the sleeve member over the body member to draw the grappling end portion over said one end of the body member and resiliently bias said grappling fingers radially outwardly from their contracted and unbiased position, and said driver member rotatable in the opposite direction relative to said members to threadedly telescopically retract the body member within the sleeve member to draw said end of the body member axially away from the grappling end portion and allow the grappling fingers to spring radially inwardly to their contracted and unbiased position.

2. The grappling device defined in claim 1, characterized in that the end of said body portion includes a tapered bearing portion resiliently biasing the grappling fingers radially outwardly. r

3. The grappling device defined in claim 1, characterized in that said body member includes an axial opening through the end of said body 'member adjacent the grappling end portion of said sleeve member adapted to receive a shaft.

4. The grappling device defined in claim 1, characterized in that said grappling fingers terminate in radially outwardly extending portions adapted to receive an encircling device.

5. The grappling device defined in claim 4, characterized in that the diameter of the grappling end portion at said radially extending portions is not greater than the external diameter of the sleeve member.

6. The grappling device defined in claim 4, characterized in that said grappling fingers are defined by a plurality of generally parallel slots extending through the end of said annular grappling sleeve.

7. The grappling device defined in claim 6, characterized in that said grappling end portion includes eight resilient grappling fingers.

8. The grappling device defined in claim 1, characterized in that said threaded member is an internally threaded nut, and said grappling sleeve member is externally threaded.

9. The grappling device defined in claim 8, characterized in that said internally threaded nut includes an annular internally threaded sleeve portion overlying said body portion which threadably receives said grappling sleeve member, and a radially inwardly extending bearing portion rotatably secured to said body portion.

10. The grappling device defined in claim 9, characterized in that the bearing portion of said nut abuts a shoulder provided on said body portion preventing axial movement of said threaded nut and permitting rotative movement.

11. A grappling device comprising: a generally cylindrical body member, a grappling sleeve member telescopically received over the body member and having an expandable grappling end portion including a plurality of resilient grap pling fingers extending beyond one end of said body member and tapered toward the axis of said sleeve member and adapted to internally engage said one end of the body member, an internally threaded nut threadedly connected to an external thread on the sleeve member at that end remote from the grappling fingers and having a radially inwardly extending bearing portion rotatably secured to said body member, said body member having shoulder means overlying opposite sides of said bearing portion preventing relative axial displacement of the nut and body member while allowing relative rotation therebetween, said nut rotatable in one direction to retract said sleeve member over the body member and resiliently bias said grappling fingers outwardly and rotatably in the opposite direction to reversely move the sleeve and body members to allow the grappling fingers to spring radially inwardly. 

1. A grappling device, comprising: a generally cylindrical body member, a grappling sleeve member telescopically received over said body member and having an expandable and contractable grappling end portion including a plurality of resilient grappling fingers extending beyond one enD of said body member and tapered toward the axis of said sleeve member and adapted to internally engage said one end of the body member, said body member having a concentric bore opening axially outwardly at said one end with such bore having a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of said grappling sleeve member measured at the distal ends of the grappling fingers when such are in their contracted and unbiased condition, a threaded driver threadedly connected to one of said members at the end remote from the grappling end portion of the sleeve member, means connecting the driver to the other member at the end remote from the grappling end portion of the sleeve member for rotation relative to such member but securing the driver and such member against relative axial displacement, said threaded driver rotatable in one direction relative to said members to threadedly telescopically retract the sleeve member over the body member to draw the grappling end portion over said one end of the body member and resiliently bias said grappling fingers radially outwardly from their contracted and unbiased position, and said driver member rotatable in the opposite direction relative to said members to threadedly telescopically retract the body member within the sleeve member to draw said end of the body member axially away from the grappling end portion and allow the grappling fingers to spring radially inwardly to their contracted and unbiased position.
 2. The grappling device defined in claim 1, characterized in that the end of said body portion includes a tapered bearing portion resiliently biasing the grappling fingers radially outwardly.
 3. The grappling device defined in claim 1, characterized in that said body member includes an axial opening through the end of said body member adjacent the grappling end portion of said sleeve member adapted to receive a shaft.
 4. The grappling device defined in claim 1, characterized in that said grappling fingers terminate in radially outwardly extending portions adapted to receive an encircling device.
 5. The grappling device defined in claim 4, characterized in that the diameter of the grappling end portion at said radially extending portions is not greater than the external diameter of the sleeve member.
 6. The grappling device defined in claim 4, characterized in that said grappling fingers are defined by a plurality of generally parallel slots extending through the end of said annular grappling sleeve.
 7. The grappling device defined in claim 6, characterized in that said grappling end portion includes eight resilient grappling fingers.
 8. The grappling device defined in claim 1, characterized in that said threaded member is an internally threaded nut, and said grappling sleeve member is externally threaded.
 9. The grappling device defined in claim 8, characterized in that said internally threaded nut includes an annular internally threaded sleeve portion overlying said body portion which threadably receives said grappling sleeve member, and a radially inwardly extending bearing portion rotatably secured to said body portion.
 10. The grappling device defined in claim 9, characterized in that the bearing portion of said nut abuts a shoulder provided on said body portion preventing axial movement of said threaded nut and permitting rotative movement.
 11. A grappling device comprising: a generally cylindrical body member, a grappling sleeve member telescopically received over the body member and having an expandable grappling end portion including a plurality of resilient grappling fingers extending beyond one end of said body member and tapered toward the axis of said sleeve member and adapted to internally engage said one end of the body member, an internally threaded nut threadedly connected to an external thread on the sleeve member at that end remote from the grappling fingers and having a radially inwardly extending bearing portion rotatably secured to said body member, said body member haVing shoulder means overlying opposite sides of said bearing portion preventing relative axial displacement of the nut and body member while allowing relative rotation therebetween, said nut rotatable in one direction to retract said sleeve member over the body member and resiliently bias said grappling fingers outwardly and rotatably in the opposite direction to reversely move the sleeve and body members to allow the grappling fingers to spring radially inwardly. 